So why am I sharing all this?
I felt my trip wasn’t complete without an awesome, challenging hike to cap off all the amazing travels we had, activities, food, and adventures so far…and a few funny stories to share as well for another time.
We had been generously offered to stay with Aunt Karen in Tai Po, Hong Kong. And if you have no idea what that looks like, like me, picture Vancouver, BC, steps from the ocean and an amazing sandy beach for baby Ari to cool off during the HOT, humid 30-degree days, and the town surrounded by glorious tall mountains everywhere you look…
And when I say surrounded, literally right in our backyard… we were 10 minutes away from one of the top 10 hikes in all of Hong Kong..Pat Sing Leng…a coincidence?
When we had first made our way to Tai Po, I was intrigued and educated on the “8 big peaks” that are so blatantly obvious when you look up in the sky..
And of course, where did my mind go?
To end the trip, I wanted to conquer at least 1 of the 8 peaks known as the 8 immortals.
Aunt Karen let us know as a local, it was rated difficult 7/10, the terrain was challenging, very steep, over 500m (feet) of elevation and to add to it the hot, humid weather that could make it gruelling…it could take 2-3 hours to conquer to summit the first peak and anywhere from 4.5 to 5 hours to complete all 8 depending on your fitness level.
My initial thoughts? I can’t wait to tackle at least the first peak and actually considered doing it with baby Ari (yup, that’s the kind of dad I am)…but Steph was firm on not taking him up – might not be the smartest idea I’ve had, and I was quick to oblige and go alone.
And that I did, Saturday morning, a little later than I wanted. After being up a few times with Ari during the night, I set out just after sunrise, solo, determined to conquer Pat Sin Leng – the first Peak.
The trailhead was only a 10-minute walk away. At 7 am, all I could think to myself was this was meant to be…what an awesome way to end this incredible trip and hike a killer mountain in Hong Kong.
I set out, after contemplating a few signs I saw for “caution for landslide” – that was going to stop me, but made me be super aware and focused on the terrain, and it would be totally ok to turn back if I hesitated or didn’t feel safe along the trail at any moment..
Fortunately, the trail was in good shape, fairly manageable, and not too challenging the first part of the way. Yes, it was steep, hot, my heart was steadily climbing up to 160, and I was sweating buckets…Yes, I was prepared with 3L of water and electrolytes.
I was in a good groove, the only one on the trail at the crack of dawn.
I got to about halfway up the mountain and came to a sign saying go left, which pointed straight up towards the first peak…
I was aware of my water intake, took frequent water breaks, a few snaps of the epic views, and was determined to summit in a decent time under 90 minutes..I was well on my way…
“Keep going,” I repeated to myself. “You got this,” “You’re strong,” “Stay focused, one step at a time.”
I set out, determined, focused, aware of my breathing and heart rate, to reach the top.
In a much faster-than-anticipated climb to the top, I summited in just under 48 minutes, and WOW, what a view to take in.
It set in after looking at how high up I actually was, and let Steph know I reached the top much faster than anticipated. But it was a gruelling push to the finish of peak 1..
After taking in the unreal views, slowing down my heart rate, rehydrating, and ringing out my shirt of sweat, a second climber I was surprised to see had just summited shortly after me.
I congratulated him, and took note that he was much more well-equipped than I was and prepared for this adventure with walking poles, proper technical clothing, and good footwear…I, on the other hand, was wearing a beat-up pair of Adidas running sneakers that barely had much life left on the tread, some workout shorts I had been wearing multiple times the last few days and my big bulk backpack..
But it didn’t slow me down. After exchanging a few words with this other hiker who was clearly a little older than me (nearly 20 years, I later found out), I wished him good luck on completing the next 7 peaks, while I sat there contemplating whether to go on or not.
And if you know me by now, you know what I was thinking. John, the other hiker I met, was my motivation and inspiration to complete all 8 peaks. I couldn’t let this older guy complete all 8, and I turned around at the first…
So after letting Steph (my wife) know I was determined to complete all 8, and had met another hiker who clearly knew the terrain and trails much better than I did, I set out, determined to catch up to John, and that I did just after the 7th peak..
We high-fived and took a selfie on the 8th and final peak, and I was curious and thinking John must have an interesting story to tell, and I wanted to find out more when I met someone for the first time, especially on a mountain top in Hong Kong.
And little did I know, when you meet someone on top of a mountain 500 meters up in a foreign country for the first time, you might just hit it off and have a great story to tell…
And that I did, in a short amount of time, I really got to know John and was blown away by his story…
John, as a dad, moved to Hong Kong 35 years ago from London, UK, with 3 kids, and worked in the construction industry. In his late 30s, he faced several health scares: high blood pressure, severe obesity, he was tipping the scales at 400lbs, and a casual drinker was taking a toll on his health. After a number of these wake-up calls, John realized it was time he took a hold and control of his health, so his doctor started him on a drug that would suppress his appetite (which sounded similar to Ozempic). This was the catalyst to start his weight loss and fitness journey.
John let me know that at 40 years old, he successfully managed to get to 300lbs, and that’s when his fitness journey really began. He’s slowed down a lot on alcohol, started taking his health very seriously, and immersed himself in hiking the incredible trails in Hong Kong and China that they had to offer. After getting a stomach bypass (removing part of your stomach) to help him lose even more weight, it was a good reminder that he wanted to be around and alive for his kids and grandkids and healthy as he aged.
Today, at 58 years old, at 220lbs, he felt and literally was on top of the world. Having the energy, the fitness level, strength, and endurance to take on any epic climbs or hikes he set out to achieve.
I was wowed and blown away by this story, on top of the 8th peak…and that’s how John and I met, and I promised I would share his inspirational story with all of you.
So there you have it, the epic finish to our family trip. Conquering the 8 immortals of Pat Sin Leng, over 500 meters of elevation, over 8km of trail, a ton of sweat, hard work, and determination to get me through it – and of course, an amazing wife whom I checked in with at every peak I summited, Steph, and sent photos to.
So, to leave those adventure seekers a few tips from this epic journey and hike here are a few tips for your next hike:
Until next time, if you’re planning a hiking adventure or any kind of challenge, let me know. I’d love to hear what you’re up to, and I’m happy to offer any tips or advice to help you crush it!
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